25.2 million Americans under 35 lived with their parents in 2025, a record, according to Realtor.com. Roughly one in three. And this isn’t simply college students staying home. Seven in ten adults aged 25–34 living with their parents have jobs. Housing costs have made moving out harder, even for people working full time.
Now comes the holiday bill. A new Barclays survey finds 56% of Americans have skipped, or would skip, a holiday gathering because they couldn’t afford it. Among Gen Z and Millennials, 37% say their parents are helping cover holiday expenses this year, up from 26% last year. That includes meals, gifts and flights. Apparently, moving back home wasn’t the end of the financial support. Mom and Dad are now helping fund Thanksgiving and Christmas too.
People aren’t necessarily giving up the holidays. 79% would host at home instead of traveling, and 78% would cut everyday spending to make room for celebrations. But when working adults need help from their parents to afford gifts and family gatherings, something is badly out of balance.
The American dream used to involve moving out, buying a house and starting your own family. Now a growing number of people are living with their parents and asking them to help pay for the holidays.
The golden age, indeed.
https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/young-adults-living-with-parents-employed-housing-costs/
https://www.realtor.com/research/adults-living-with-parents-june-26/
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